Small offering dish/lid

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Common in grave, tomb, and temple contexts, small vessels such as this example are often called "offering bowls/dishes" or, because of their small size, "model bowls." In ancient times they could be used for the presentation of offerings at a tomb or temple or as model offerings in and of...

Common in grave, tomb, and temple contexts, small vessels such as this example are often called "offering bowls/dishes" or, because of their small size, "model bowls." In ancient times they could be used for the presentation of offerings at a tomb or temple or as model offerings in and of themselves. Some were also employed as lids for jars with mouths of appropriate diameter. Such dishes/lids are most often made of medium to coarse grades of clay. Knife-cut or cord-cut bases are common, though rounded bases occur as well. Frequent irregularities or asymmetry in shaping reflect fast work and mass production.

Provenance

From Nuri, Pyramid 30 (tomb of a queen?), NW foundation deposit. 1917-1918: excavated by the Harvard University–Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition; assigned to the MFA in the division of finds by the government of the Sudan.
(Accession Date: August 15, 2006)